Crate Diggers: September 2016

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Anniversary of Miles Davis' Death

“Don't play what's there, play what's not there” - Miles Davis
(Miles Davis)
Miles Davis was born on May 26th, 1926 in Alton, Illinois, USA. In 1927 Davis’ family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois. When he was 13 he started playing trumpet.
(Davis as a child)
At 16 Davis was a member of the music society and, when not at school, playing professionally first at the local Elks Club. At 17 he spent a year playing in Eddie Randle's band, the Blue Devils. In 1944 Davis graduated high school. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker invited Davis to play third trumpet for a couple of weeks for their band. Also in 1944 Davis moved to New York City, NY to study at the Juilliard School of Music. Davis then dropped out of school due to the Juilliard classes for centering too much on the classical European and white repertoire. Davis began playing professionally, performing in several 52nd Street clubs with Coleman Hawkins and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. In 1945 he entered a recording studio for the first time, as a member of Herbie Fields's group.
(Davis in 1945)
In 1946 he finally got the chance to record as a leader. In 1948 Davis was not being paid while in the band. Davis then left Charlie Parker’s band.
(Charlie Parker (Left) and Davis (Right))
In 1949 Davis got a record contract with Capitol Records. Also in 1949 while in Paris, France Davis began a relationship with French actress and singer Juliette Gréco. In 1950 Davis started doing heroin. In 1951 Davis signed to Prestige Records.
(Davis in 1951)
In 1953 his drug addiction began to impair his playing ability. While in Los Angeles, CA he had been arrested for drug possession. In 1954 he beat his drug addiction. He then started to play in Detroit, MI. In 1955 Davis had an operation to remove polyps from his larynx. Even though he was not supposed to speak at all, he had an argument with somebody and raised his voice. This outburst damaged his vocal cords forever. Also in 1955 Davis attended the Newport Jazz Festival At the same time, Davis recruited the players for a formation that became known as his "first great quintet": John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Davis then signed with Columbia Records.
(Davis (Center) performing at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955)
In 1957 the band disbanded. In 1958 Davis returned to New York City, NY. The band then came back together. Also in 1958 he married his 1st wife. In 1959 Davis released “Kind of Blue”. While performing at a nightclub in New York City, NY Davis stepped out in between sets and while he was outside he escorted a White woman to her taxi and a police officer told Davis to move along and after Davis told him that he worked as a performer at the nightclub the officer attacked Davis. Davis was then arrested. Davis was acquitted of disorderly conduct charges and he tried sue the NYPD but he eventually dropped the charges.
(Davis after the incident in New York City)
In 1963 Davis formed a new group. Herbie Hancock was one of the members to Davis’ new band. In 1966 he released “Miles Smiles”. Davis’ sound began to change with the inclusion of electric bass, electric piano, and electric guitar. In 1968 Davis remarried.
(Davis performing in 1968)
In 1970 Davis released “Bitches Brew”. Davis then started to use effects on his trumpet to alter the sound. Davis did the soundtrack to the documentary of boxer Jack Johnson. In 1972 Davis released “On the Corner”.
(Davis performing in 1972)
Davis then formed a new group. In 1974 Davis released “Big Fun”. In 1975 Davis was hospitalized. In 1976 Davis had a hip replacement. Davis then became addicted to alcohol and cocaine. Davis began to open for former band member Herbie Hancock. In 1979 Davis overcame his cocaine addiction.
(Davis in 1976)
Davis then brought together another band with Marcus Miller as the bass player. In 1981 Davis married Cicely Tyson.
(Davis (Left) with Cicely Tyson (Right))
In 1985 Davis released “You’re Under Arrest”. Davis also guest starred on “Miami Vice”.
(Davis in “Miami Vice”)
In 1986 Davis signed with Warner Records. Davis also participated in the “Artists United Against Apartheid” recording. Also in 1986 Davis released “Tutu”. In 1987 Davis won a Grammy for “Sketches in Spain”.
(Davis in 1987)
In 1990 Davis received a Grammy lifetime achievement award.
(Davis (Left) with Herbie Hancock (Right) receiving the Grammy Lifetime achievement award)
In 1991 Davis starred in the movie Dingo. On September 28th, 1991 Miles Davis died of a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure in Santa Monica, California, USA. He was 65 years old.
(Davis’ grave)
Today is the 25th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great musician today.


Albums by Miles Davis
  • “The New Sounds” (1951)
  • “Young Man with a Horn” (1952)
  • “Blue Period” (1953)
  • “The Compositions of Al Cohn” (1953)  
  • “Miles Davis Volume 2” (1953)
  • “Miles Davis Volume 3” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis Quartet” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis All Star Sextet” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis Quintet” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins” (1954)
  • “Miles Davis All Stars Volume 1” (1955)
  • “Miles Davis All Stars Volume 2” (1955)
  • “Musings of Miles” (1955)
  • “Blue Moods” (1955)
  • “Dig” (1956)
  • “Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet” (1956)
  • “Miles Davis and Horns” (1956)
  • “Quintet/Sextet” (1956)
  • “Collectors’ Items” (1956)
  • “Blue Haze” (1956)
  • “Walkin’” (1957)
  • “Cookin’” (1957)
  • “Bags’ Groove” (1957)
  • “‘Round About Midnight” (1957)
  • “Miles Ahead” (1957)
  • “Relaxin’” (1958)
  • “Milesstones” (1958)
  • “Jazz Track” (1958)
  • “Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants” (1959)
  • “Workin’” (1959)
  • “Porgy and Bess” (1959)
  • “Kind of Blue” (1959)
  • “Sketches of Spain” (1960)
  • “Steamin’” (1961)
  • “Someday My Prince Will Come” (1961)
  • “Seven Steps to Heaven” (1963)
  • “Quiet Nights” (1964)
  • “E.S.P.” (1965)
  • “Miles Smiles” (1967)
  • “Sorcerer” (1967)
  • “Nefertiti” (1967)
  • “Miles in the Sky” (1968)
  • “Filles de Kilimanjaro” (1968)
  • “In a Silent Way” (1969)
  • “Bitches Brew” (1970)
  • “Jack Johnson” (1971)
  • “Live-Evil” (1971)
  • “On the Corner” (1972)
  • “Big Fun” (1974)
  • “Get Up with it” (1974)
  • “Water Babies” (1976)
  • “The Man with the Horn” (1981)
  • “Star People” (1983)
  • “Decoy” (1984)
  • “You’re Under Arrest” (1985)
  • “Tutu” (1986)
  • “Amandla” (1989)
  • “Aura” (1989)
  • “Doo-Bop” (1992)


Videos of Miles Davis

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Friday, September 23, 2016

Happy Birthday Ray Charles

“Love is a special word, and I use it only when I mean it. You say the word too much and it becomes cheap” - Ray Charles
(Ray Charles)
Ray Charles was born as Ray Robinson on September 23rd, 1930 in Albany, Georgia, USA. As a baby Robinson moved to Greenville, FL. Charles was raised by his biological mother. At age 3 Robinson learned how to play piano. At age 4 he started to lose his sight. When he was 5 he witnessed his younger brother drown. At age 7 Robinson completely lost his sight. In 1937 Robinson attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, FL. When Robinson was 14 his mother died. In 1945 Robinson moved to Jacksonville, FL. At age 16 he moved to Orlando, FL. In 1947 he moved to Tampa, FL. He got a job being apart of 2 bands. In 1948 he moved to Seattle, WA. He then met Quincy Jones.
(Robinson in 1948)
In 1949 he had his 1st national hit "Confession Blues”. In 1950 he moved to Los Angeles, CA. In 1951 he started going by “Ray Charles”. In 1952 he signed to Atlantic records.
(Charles in 1952)
In 1953 he released “Mess Around”. In 1954 he had hits with "It Should Have Been Me" and "Don't You Know" which became his first chart success for Atlantic. He also released “I Got a Woman”. It reached No. 2 on the R&B charts. In 1955 he had hits "This Little Girl of Mine" and "A Fool for You”.
(Charles in 1955)
In 1956 Charles recruited a young all female singing group named the Cookies, and reshaped them as The Raelettes. In 1959 Charles reached the Billboard Top Ten with "What'd I Say”. He then signed to ABC Paramount Records. In 1960 he released  “Genius + Soul = Jazz”. He also released the single “Georgia on my Mind”. He then received 4 Grammy awards. He then released the hit song “Hit the Road Jack”.
(Charles in 1960)
In 1961 Charles had expanded his small road ensemble to a full scale big band. Also in 1961 Charles faced a near death experience when the pilot of his plane lost visibility, as snow and his failure to use defroster caused the windshield of the plane to become completely covered in ice. In 1962 he founded his own record label Tangerine Records. In 1963 he had major pop hits with "Busted" and “Take These Chains From My Heart”. In 1965 Charles was arrested for possession of heroin.
(Charles in 1965)
He went to rehab to avoid jail. In 1966 he released "I Don't Need No Doctor" and "Let's Go Get Stoned”. In 1967 he released “Here We Go Again”. In 1972 he released “America the Beautiful”.
(Charles in 1972)
In 1974 he signed to his own label Crossover records. In 1977 he signed to Atlantic records again. Also in 1977 he hosted “Saturday Night Live”.
(Charles in 1977)
In 1979 Charles’ song “Georgia on my Mind” was proclaimed the state song of Georgia. In 1980 he appeared in the movie The Blues Brothers.
(Charles in The Blues Brothers (1980))
In 1981 Charles was criticized for performing at South Africa's Sun City resort during an international boycott of its apartheid policy. In 1983 Charles signed with Columbia records. In 1985 he was apart of the song “We Are the World”.
(Charles (Center) with Stevie Wonder (Left) and Michael Jackson (Right))
Also in 1985 he performed at Ronald Reagan’s inauguration. In 1990 Charles had a duet with Chaka Khan on the song “I’ll be Good to You”.
(Charles (Right) with Chaka Khan (Left))
In 1993 he released the album “My World”. Also in 1993 he performed at Bill Clinton’s inauguration. In 1996 he released the album “Strong Love Affair”. In 2002 he released the album “Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again”. In 2003 he was inducted into the songwriters hall of fame.
(Charles in 2003)
He also had hip surgery. In 2004 a movie on his life was released called Ray.
(Charles (Left) and Jamie Foxx (Right))
On June 10th, 2004 Ray Charles died of liver disease in Beverly Hills, California, USA. He was 73 years old.
(Charles’ funeral)
Today is his 86th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Ray Charles.


Albums by Ray Charles
  • “Ray Charles” (1957)
  • “The Great Ray Charles” (1957)
  • “Yes Indeed!” (1958)
  • “Soul Brothers” (1958)
  • “What’d I Say” (1959)
  • “The Genius of Ray Charles” (1959)
  • “The Original Ray Charles” (1959)
  • “The Fabulous Ray Charles” (1959)
  • “The Genius Hits the Road” (1960)
  • “The Genius Sings the Blues” (1961)
  • “Soul Meeting” (1961)
  • “The Genius After Hours” (1961)
  • “Dedicated to You” (1961)
  • “Ray Charles and Betty Carter” (1961)
  • “Genius + Soul = Jazz” (1961)
  • “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” (1962)
  • “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two” (1962)
  • “Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul” (1963)
  • “Sweet & Sour Tears” (1964)
  • “Have a Smile with Me” (1964)
  • “Together Again” (1965)
  • “Crying Time” (1966)
  • “Ray’s Moods” (1966)
  • “Invites You to Listen” (1967)
  • “A Portrait of Ray” (1968)
  • “I’m All Yours Baby!” (1968)
  • “Doing His Thing” (1969)
  • “My Kind of Jazz” (1970)
  • “Love Country Style” (1970)
  • “Volcanic Action of My Soul” (1971)
  • “A Message From the People” (1972)
  • “Through the Eyes of Love” (1972)
  • “Jazz Number II” (1972)
  • “Come Live with Me” (1974)
  • “Renaissance” (1975)
  • “My Kind of Jazz Part 3” (1975)
  • “Porgy and Bess” (1976)
  • “True to Life” (1977)
  • “Love & Peace” (1978)
  • “The Tender Side of Ray Charles” (1978)
  • “Ain’t It So” (1979)
  • “Brother Ray is at it Again” (1980)
  • “Wish You Were Here Tonight” (1983)
  • “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” (1984)
  • “Friendship” (1984)
  • “The Spirit of Christmas” (1985)
  • “From the Pages of My Mind” (1986)
  • “Just Between Us” (1988)
  • “Would You Believe” (1990)
  • “My World” (1993)
  • “Strong Love Affair” (1996)
  • “Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again” (2002)
  • “Genius Loves Company” (2004)


Films starring Ray Charles
  • Swingin' Along (1961) as himself
  • Ballad in Blue (1964) as himself
  • The Big T.N.T. Show (1966) as himself
  • The Blues Brothers (1980) as Ray
  • Limit Up (1989) as Julius
  • Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (1990) as himself
  • Love Affair (1994) as himself
  • Spy Hard (1996) as Bus Driver
  • The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave (2000) as himself
  • Blue's Big Musical Movie (2000) as G-Clef


Videos of Ray Charles

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